Even with an 18-month extension of the existing highway funding law, state officials say the uncertainly about how much money will be available when a full six-year reauthorization is finally enacted will hold up projects, according to the report.

In a faltering economy, that’s not good news.

Some experts say this could undermine the U.S. economy.

“We’ve reached the point where others are doing the things that allow them to surpass the efficiencies of our economy, and we are going to pay a terrible price for our inaction,” said Pete Rahn, executive director of the Missouri Transportation Department[2], in the CQ Politics report.